Chapter 27
Icouldn’t stop fiddling with the seat belt since Sonia, the front-desk Beta, started telling me what happened while I’d been blissfully unaware in the back of the club.
The way Sonia explained it, they’d been desperate. Whatever had happened had left an impression on her because she kept asking me how I made Alphas ‘sprung’ like that. It took me a moment to figure out what she meant by the American colloquialism.
All I could do was sit like a stunned deer as she chattered on. I felt bad, like I’d caused it, but I knew it was stupid of me. I didn’t control their behavior.
But the pain they must be feeling . . .
I hurt for them. The Demi discovery must have been a slap in the face. A crumpling of the belief system they’d been functioning on.
“We had to call authorities so they’d leave the premises.”
Their anger had to be because of the loss of money. But that wasn’t my problem; I hadn’t chosen to be sold to them. Nor had they had to purchase an Omega from abroad.
Sonia rolled up to the front of a large building. Brown bricks made the structure blend in with the dark sky. Inside, fluorescent lighting spilled through the brightly lit lobby.
I unbuckled the seat belt of Sonia’s nice, expensive-smelling car.
“If you tell them about your little Alpha stalker problem, they might be able to file a restraining order. If they’ve already hurt you, you can also press charges.” I appreciated the advice, but I just wanted to put them behind me.
“If there’s anything I can do to thank you for your help—”
“Nope, you’re good.” I hesitated with the door slightly open. I didn’t like the feeling of owing someone. “But I am sleepy, so . . .”
“Right.” I cleared my throat and got out of her car. “Thank you again.”
I closed the door, and she peeled away, leaving me in eerie silence.
No one was around. The parking lot was utterly silent.
I rubbed my arms against the chill. Her car had been nice and warm, making the cold more prominent.
Fog stretched past the lot, blanketing the cement.
Creepy. I turned to face the building and reached for the door handle. It didn’t budge.
I pressed my hands against the glass, checking if anyone was on the other side, but it was empty. My throat felt too clogged. I stepped away from the window and saw the business hours listed in white. It didn’t open until eight.
There was also a number for after-hours aid . . . but I didn’t have a phone. Fuck. I tucked my hair behind my ear.
Four hours wasn’t too bad of a wait.
I perched against the decorative stone framing the doors. This was not the outfit I should have chosen for today. I rubbed my arms protected only by a thin long-sleeved shirt. Weights seemed to have taken up residence on my eyelids. I stifled a yawn.
I didn’t know how long I managed to remain propped and dozing against the stone.
If my Scent Matches had wanted me, I would have been in their arms, warm in their big house and toasty bed.
But no, I refused to be a consolation prize.
They had to figure out their Demi situation, and I wasn’t hanging around for that more than I already had.
The world tilted, and I managed to jerk awake and catch myself before hitting the ground.
I shivered, struggling to stay aware.
If I just . . . I lowered to sit on the cement, leaning back against the stone. This was more comfortable than my last position.
I’d just rest my eyes for a bit.
“Miss?” The persistent voice wouldn’t leave me alone. A tremble coursed through my body and I tried to move, but my eyes refused to open. “Miss!” I groaned, and the female voice sighed with relief. “Thank God.”
Somehow I managed to open my crusty-feeling eyes.
Sunlight spilled over the parking lot that was slowly beginning to fill with cars.
A woman stared at me, her short gray hair close to her scalp.
She didn’t look old, nor necessarily young, and her scent indicated an Omega designation.
A name tag pinned to her shirt said Bertha.
I shoved to my feet and brushed my skirt down. My ass had been on the cement, leaving it freezing cold.
“Sorry. I arrived too early, and I didn’t have a phone to contact anyone.” I cut myself off, shivering.
She eyed me from my ballet flats to the dirt staining my legs and skirt. “Let’s get you inside,” she said with a soft smile.
Bertha opened the door and waved me in. I hesitantly followed, eyeing the clinical lobby. An old woman sat behind the round desk at the entrance.
“Dora, take care of the things up here. I’m going to go process an Omega into the system.”
“I will.” Dora offered me a soft smile. I followed Bertha through a long hall. The entire time, I couldn’t take my eyes away from her bond marks. Teeth marks marred where her Scent Gland was.
Multiple teeth marks were embedded like birthmarks. Since they were piled on each other, it was difficult to get an accurate count.
“Here we are.” She opened one of the doors to a room painted a soft lavender. It was set up like a cozy living room. “You’re welcome to any of that.”
I eyed the basket full of individually wrapped stuffed animals.
Omegas love soft things, but I’d learned early on not to form attachments to anything because it would be used against me.
Like the small bunny I’d found once when I was around fourteen.
Father had snapped its neck the following time I pissed him off.
Instead of selecting anything from the basket, I took a seat across from her and folded my hands on the desk while she set up the Epad in front of her.
“Do you have identification?” She said in a gentle voice.
“No,” I responded, tense.
“No worries.” She smiled over the screen. “It just means I’ll have to put you in the U.S. Registry. Omega Rights Division protects Omegas no matter the background or nationality. It’ll just take us a bit longer to get everything all set up.”
“Name?”
“Eva Iron . . .” That’s what popped out of my mouth? She typed, setting the name in stone. “Eva Irons.” I cleared my throat.
“Country of Origin?”
“Mexico.”
She continued typing. “How did you come to be in the United States?”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. How did I explain I was sold by my father, and held captive? Would I have to talk about them? My pulse picked up speed.
“My father sold me.”
She stopped typing, and her eyes widened. “You were trafficked? It’s been happening more often,” she mumbled to herself. “What pack purchased you?” She leaned forward, her gaze sharp.
“I-I don’t know,” I finally managed to spit out.
“Do you feel like you need to be placed in witness protection?” I opened and closed my mouth. My heart was full on pounding. If I named them, would they be imprisoned? Everything inside me recoiled. I couldn’t bring myself to speak. Despite what they’d done, I wanted to protect them.
“I’m sorry. That was overwhelming.” Bertha pinched the bridge of her nose.
“It’s just there’s been such an uptick in the trafficking of Omegas.
Why don’t we return to filling out your basic information?
” She poised her fingers over the keyboard.
“Any Scent Matches? Or Packs we need to put in the system?”
I clenched and unclenched my hand. Finally, I said, “No.” It was decided. I didn’t want to admit their existence.
“Got it. That will change how we deal with your case and where we will house you.”
“Will I have any say about where I’ll be living?”
“We certainly do our best to take your preferences into consideration. We have places all around the country. I can also help you get set up with an Omega mentor at your location. Before you’re offered one of the homes, we will place you at The Bungalows a few towns over.
It’s where we send every Omega while we’re figuring out placement.
Two birds, one stone, because it’s the luxury hotel Omegas go to in order to find a temporary Pack for your heat. It’s less clinical than other options.”
My breath stuck in my throat. “Will I have to choose a Pack?”
“Not a requirement, but your mentor may set up a few dates for you to see if any Pack intrigues you.” As long as I didn’t have to choose one, I was fine with it.
“And this is another big stipulation. Are you willing to participate in event Matchings, speed-meets, and or other events hosted by the ORD to find a Pack?”
I bit back my groan. At least there was no chance of finding my Scent Matches.
“I need a verbal agreement.”
And I rued having to give it. “Yes, I agree.”
She continued to type with a small smile on her face. “Great, let’s fill out the rest of this and get your documentation all set up.”
I settled in for a long wait.